The National tribune., 1887-05-05
CHAMPION HILLS.
Ihc EuRlrcd and Two Dozen " iii. I'm The. Charge
on The Battery.

Tic " EuRlrcd and Two Dozen" III. I'm the Charge
on the Battery.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: notice dis
cussi0n in relation TO the charge on the left OF
the rebel line at Champion Hills, Miss. The
brigade which made the charge was the First
Brigade. Third Division. Seventeenth Corps,
Gen. j. T.. Smith, formerly Colonel, 45th His,
commanding, and was composed of the 10th,
3ist, 4jth and l2ith H., and 23d Ind. Passing
over events prior TO the charge IN when the
brigade figured conspicuously, about o'clock
they were disposed Tor protection, aud partlcu-
lar attention was paid 10 the battery IN CUES
ton on The point 81 the hill on the rebel lett.
The brigade with the exception cf the l24th
H., WAS in line Of battle. Ii / remember the
2Oth and 3lst supported Deiolyers battery.
which WAS in action on top OF the hall behind
which the l2ith had been haitod an column.
While here two other batteTies-l think water
houses and BOlton's-were run 10 the front ana
Immediately went into action.
As soon these guns were opened the l2lth
was ordered 10 Fall in Load FIX bayo-
nets :" and then came the order, Forward
-DOuble-quck Ne went over the top
of the hill, then to the right-oblque down the
hill, across the creek. and into the rebel line,
holding our fire until at close range. without
q halt the fire WAS delivered, and right into
them we went with the bayonct and over the
battery in question, killing $50 and taking 500
prisoners of the 43d Ga, supporting the bat
tory, killing Maj. Anderson, OF that regiment,
and mortally wOunding its Colonel skid har-
ris; also, killing the Captain of the battery
and taking the whole outfit, 10 wat, TWO AZ
pound, one 6-pound and one 20-pound howllz-
ers. aud doubling the rebel line back. The
3ist struck them almost instantly, then the
45th, and 50 on down the line making the rout
complete.
4. - -. l. -. i. a., o,r,,aI If thu 2Ist
i'll. made remark that was never forgotten Dy
the regiment In the heat Of the excitement
Immediately following the charge, he rode, NAT
in hand. 10 the regiment and shouted
knew the Hundred and Two Dozen WOULD 90
TO depend on"
This remark was called forth on account of
the action 81 the 23d Ind. AZ Port Gibson IN
refusing TO allow the l2ith 10 support IT; on
which occasion the OO,oDpl said We were Eood
enough TO support hiH, and immediately threw
the 3lst on our iroat a skiTnishers. When
the last charge made on the field was ordered,
tho l2ith went pell-mell over the 3lst, not CAV
ing them chance TO rally, the Colonel shout
ing Get out Of the way. There goes the
Hundred and Two Dozen; they will make
them smell hi" We were at once join
ed by the rest of the command aud struck
their line at a point Just to the left OF where
the 45th and 23d lnd. had some pretty close
and sharp work for about an hour previous.
This charge was made about o'clock p. M.
After gaining the position held by the rebel
line the command was halted. Soon Gems.
Grant aud Logan came 90 the position we held
and rode by the regiment. Some one called
out, - How is that for raw recruitsg"-th term
used by the Colonel Of the 23d in refusing our
support earlier. Gen. Grant, smiling, said:
You have done well, boys; i don't want
men 10 do better"
Shortly We were ordered forward and follow
ed the Johnnies, skirmishing, until just at dusk
we struck them in line A volley and charge
broke them again. These rebels were the 3lst
Ala, covering the rebel rear. whose Adiutant
manned McGeel was left ia our hands mortally
wounded. so closing the day and the fight at
Port Gibson. What has become of all of the
Hundred and Two Dozen "2-C. II. BURROWS,
Co. C, l24th H., Granite, Colo.